6th June 2018, Kathmandu Nepal
School of Management, Tribhuvan University hosts “Post Budget Discussion Session with Experts.”
School of Management, Tribhuvan University (SOMTU) organized a post-budget discussion session with experts, the former governor Mr. Dipendra Purush Dhakal and former member of National Planning Commission and Parliament Dr. Dilli Raj Khanal on June 6, 2018, at SOMTU premises.
The experts highlighted the fiscal year budget regarding agriculture, progressive tax system, literacy rates, health and education, employment and economic growth rate sectors. They were mainly concerned with the implementation of the budget issues. Corruption, lack of commitment and trade balance rectifier were raised as the major hindrance for the regulation process according to them.
According to Mr. Dhakal, the contributory pension system is a proper initiation. He also supported the provision of increment in insurance for the elderly. He added that the progressive tax system is still debatable and has its pros and cons. Similarly, he sighted that there could have been more policy diversification chances because of the unified government structure. He left the dilemma of black money investment opportunities to the school of thought.
Likewise, Dr. Khanal cleared the air about the context in which the budget has been drafted. He added the fact that the budget allocated for education and health has progressive sights with some controversial issues. He appreciated the socialist approach taken by the government in this budget. On the other hand, he also stated that we should focus more on the areas of competitive advantage. He ended with a note that capital accumulation is a must and we should look forward to foreign investment, privatization, and cooperatives in a progressive manner.
Both the experts had analyzed the budget as a realistic budget according to the size of the budget. The government has planned for sustainable development which is appreciable whereas setting up economic growth rate to 8% is not possible on a practical basis. So, keeping into account the slogan of national level “samridha Nepal, sukhi Nepali”; the fiscal year budget is addressed to all level of Nepalese economy for the overall prosperity of the nation.
Speaker Profile:
Prof. Dr. Dilli Raj Khanal
Dr. Dilli Raj Khanal, the former Member of Parliament and National Planning Commission. He has been working in the field of research, teaching and social works. He is also the founder Chairman of the Institute for Policy Research and Development. Khanal has published several books, policy papers, and reports individually and jointly to his credit. His recent research works and writings are focused on the political economy aspects of socio-economic transformation and development.
Mr. Deependra Purush Dhakal
Mr. Dipendra Purush Dhakal; former Governor of NRB for the period (2000-2001) as well as Former Secretary of Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Civil Aviation. He has worked full-time as managing director of Kathmandu Medical College, and he holds post graduate degree in statistics from TU.